1952 Series I 80-inch Minerva Field Ambulance

Chassis number: 26631963

Registration number: GSJ 641

Engine type: 2.0 Petrol

Gearbox type: 4 Speed Manual

Vehicle spec:

This vehicle was delivered from Solihull as a CKD kit on 16 July 1952 and was part of the fourth batch of vehicles sent to Société Nouvelle Minerva SA, of Mortsel near Antwerp, Belgium. It entered service that year with the Belgian Army carrying military registration number 15832. It was sold out of service in 1993 but prior to that had been on display at the Belgian Army Museum since 1986.

To overcome the inherent space limitations, the Field Ambulance version was equipped with racks for two stretchers supported by a pivoting A-frame on the tow hitch and covered by a tilt extension.

Minerva assembled CKD kits in Belgium under licence from Rover from 1951 to 1956, mostly for the Belgian Army, with locally built all-steel bodies which had the distinctive angular sloping front wings. These were adopted because Minerva lacked the capability at its factory to replicate the standard Land Rover curved front wings.

Mike and Paddy Hardiman acquired the vehicle in 1997, and it was swiftly christened ‘Annie’. It was registered in the UK with the age-related number GSJ 641 in September 1997. ‘Annie’ the Ambulance was generously donated to the Collection by Mike and Paddy Hardiman in 2025.